gemology
Sign in to savethumb|upright=1.25|Examining a pink sapphire under a gemmological microscope Gemology or gemmology is the science dealing with natural and artificial gemstone materials. It is a specific interdisciplinary branch of mineralogy. Some jewelers (and many non-jewelers) are academically trained gemologists and are qualified to identify and evaluate gems.
Article
15 sectionsContents
- History
- Background
- Gemological instruments
- General identification of gems
- Identification by refractive index
- Identification by specific gravity
- Identification by spectroscopy
- Identification by inclusions
- Identification by flaws and striations
- Institutes, laboratories, schools, and publications
- Institutes
- Commercial laboratories
- Publications
- Footnotes
- References
thumb|upright=1.25|Examining a pink sapphire under a gemmological microscope Gemology or gemmology is the science dealing with natural and artificial gemstone materials. It is a specific interdisciplinary branch of mineralogy. Some jewelers (and many non-jewelers) are academically trained gemologists and are qualified to identify and evaluate gems.
==History== Rudimentary education in gemology for jewellers and gemologists began in the nineteenth century, but the first qualifications were instigated after the National Association of Goldsmiths of Great Britain (NAG) set up as an Education Committee for this purpose in 1908. The committee emerged as a distinct branch of NAG (named the Gemmological Association) in 1931, shortly after the incorporation of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). In 1938 the branch was renamed as the Gemmological Association of Great Britain, before being incorporated in 1847. The organisation is now an educational charity and accredited awarding body with its courses taught worldwide.